DNA tests show Mitchell Young cannot be excluded as donor of DNA found on handle of baseball bat in Cipriano case

(left) Mitchell Young and Tucker Cipriano enter the courtroom before the start of a motion hearing in front of Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Shalina Kumar, Thursday June 6, 2013. The judge ruled on what photographic evidence will be allowed in the trial next Monday in which both defendants are accused in the beating death of Robert Cipriano April 16, 2012. (Oakland Press Photo:Vaughn Gurganian)

Science was at the forefront of an abbreviated day of testimony Wednesday in the Mitchell Young murder trial.

Jurors who will decide Young's fate heard testimony about DNA and blood spatter from two scientific experts -- one from Michigan State Police and the other from the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

Andrea Young, forensic scientist with Michigan State Police, was the first to take the stand Wednesday afternoon. She tested several items related to the crime for DNA.

Andrea Young obtained DNA evidence from three different areas of one aluminum baseball bat used in the April 16, 2012 attacks on the Cipriano family home, which left the patriarch, Robert Cipriano dead.

Cipriano's wife, Rose, and son, Salvatore, were severely injured in those attacks. Their adopted son, Tucker, was also charged in this case but pleaded no contest and will spend the rest of his life in prison.

The handle of that bat had DNA evidence from at least three people. Rose Cipriano was the primary donor, and Mitchell Young and Salvatore Cipriano could not be excluded as donors.

Tucker Cipriano, however, was excluded as a possible donor of DNA on any portion of that bat.

Robert Cipriano and Salvatore Cipriano were major donors on two different areas of the bat. Those two, along with Rose, could not be excluded as donors of another area of DNA evidence on the bat.

Andrea Young also tested a knife blade that had blood on it. At least two DNA donors were present, and Mitchell Young could not be excluded as a possible donor. Tucker Cipriano was also excluded as a donor of DNA to the knife.

Andrea Young also tested items found at the Keego Harbor home where Tucker Cipriano was eventually arrested. A washcloth there had DNA matching that of Salvatore Cipriano, while a shirt found there had DNA matching Salvatore and at least two others.

Tucker Cipriano could not be excluded as a possible donor of DNA to that item, but Robert Cipriano's DNA was not found on either object.

Mitchell Young was arrested at the scene of the attacks, while Tucker Cipriano was able to escape and clean up at the Keego Harbor home.

A second baseball bat, which contained DNA from multiple donors, did not contain DNA matching Mitchell Young or Robert Cipriano.

After a brief recess, Bridget Lockhart, who performs blood spatter analysis for the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, took the witness stand.

"I would say there was an extensive amount" of blood in the kitchen, Lockhart said.

Robert Cipriano was face down on the floor with a large pool of blood around his head, while a "cast off" blood spatter stain was on the ceiling above his head.

Lockhart also examined Young's pants, which had plenty of blood stains on them. Those stains, which were near the bottom of his pants, indicated that he was very close to the blood source and above the blood source.

After Lockhart's testimony concluded, the trial was adjourned for the day. Testimony will resume at 8:30 a.m. Thursday.